September 2026 – Co Owners Council Meeting

CO-OWNERS COUNCIL UPDATE

September 2026: what we heard and what happens next

Your feedback on benefits, leave, training and communication shaped the Council meeting on 30 September 2026, chaired by Employee Director Louise Whyte.

This summary reflects the position reported at the September meeting.

Leave and mandatory training

• Bereavement leave: representatives said five days may be insufficient, particularly where travel, funeral arrangements or multiple bereavements are involved. Louise will ask the People Team to review flexibility and clarify bereavement, compassionate, dependant and carers leave, including pay and manager discretion. A response is due at the next Council meeting. A policy change has not been agreed.
• Training time and pay: the meeting heard that clinicians unable to complete mandatory training during their working day can claim their normal hourly rate. Louise will check the position with Jo Temple and whether further communication is needed.

Benefits and wellbeing

• Financial support: Paystream, a proposed way to access pay already earned, remains delayed and linked to payroll and benefits work. The existing Credit Union offer will be promoted more actively. The decision not to introduce workplace food provision remains unchanged.
• Access to benefits: concerns about NHS fleet scheme eligibility and accessibility will go to the Head of People. Representatives also questioned the clarity of technology and cycle-to-work schemes.
• Birthday recognition: Louise will seek an update for the next meeting on outstanding birthday vouchers following Shine’s closure. Birthday holidays remain on the benefits review list, with co-owner input expected from early December.
• Mental health support: the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provider was changing the subcontractor for its 24/7 talking therapies line following poor feedback. A launch date had not been confirmed.
• Wellness activity: Financial Wellness Month has developed into a broader wellness proposal. It will not take place in autumn 2026; further discussion with the People Team is needed.

More ways to shape BrisDoc

• Insight and Action Group: up to 25 co-owners will help explore how BrisDoc’s values are explained and lived, and begin shaping the Co-Owner Charter. The first session was planned for early November. Representatives have been asked to read and promote the group’s information paper.
• Co-Owner Champions: representatives will identify and support volunteers to strengthen two-way communication across sites and working patterns. Line-manager support will be needed. The expression-of-interest route was not yet live and was expected to be hosted on Radar.
• Council vacancies: formal elections for vacant representative roles are planned before Christmas.
• Employee Director succession: the election process was anticipated for December 2026 and January 2027, with a successor expected to start around March 2027 ahead of Kelly Shore’s term renewal in May 2027. Interested representatives can discuss the role with Louise or Kelly.

Clearer communication and service updates

• Practice Services: Andy Morrison will develop a clearer organisation diagram and guide to contacts and escalation routes. For Charlotte Keel colleagues, Kerry was identified as the first contact, with matters outside her remit going to Diane, Head of Practice Services.
• SevernSide shift swaps: concerns have been discussed by the Senior Leadership Team. Lucy Grinnell was expected to send the outcome directly to clinicians in the coming weeks.
• Communication during change: representatives asked for plain language, clear explanations of local impact, better contact routes and ongoing feedback. Deborah Gidman will arrange small-group discussions with representatives.
• Annual updates: Lewis Scandle and Katherine Clifton are mapping key business dates and potential announcements to develop an annual communications calendar.
• Noticeboards: Louise will explore separate spaces for co-owner notices and BrisDoc communications, reporting back on 25 November.

Finance and the December payment

BrisDoc was reported to remain profitable, sustainable and stable, despite pressure on contracts and funding. The current-year profit forecast was approximately £400,000, subject to negotiations and potential new contracts. The amount available for employee ownership distributions will only become clear after the financial year closes on 31 March 2027.

The remaining 2026 payment relates to statutory and mandatory training compliance and was expected in December, using broadly the same approach as previous years. Co-owners were reminded to maintain compliance throughout the year. The People Team is working on automated advance reminders.

The minutes also set out plans for the 15 October annual general meeting (AGM), including a clearer breakdown of spending, previous-year performance and future projections.

Celebrating ownership and supporting our community

• Employee Ownership Day: site visits were well received, but some colleagues could not take part. Future planning should span a wider period, include evening, weekend and out-of-hours teams, and give the Council a stronger role.
• Community activity: representatives highlighted Operation Community Hamper, including donations, family sponsorship and packing support with manager approval. Representatives interested in Community Fund activity should contact Kelly Shore. Clearer reporting on the Fund’s decisions and social impact was also requested.

Summary of the Co-Owners Council meeting held on 30 September 2026.